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Friday, January 6, 2012

BLUEFIN TUNA SOLD FOR A RECORD $736,000

But This Publicity Stunt May Hurt Dwindling Stocks

~ A festive event for Japan after the Tsunami of 2011.

On Jan 5th, a 593 lb. bluefin tuna was auctioned at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market for a record $736,000. But at $1,240 a pound, there is no way the buyer, Kiyomura Co., can make a profit. In fact, even though the fish is indeed of the highest quality, it is estimated that the company’s sushi chain (Sushi-Zanmai) will incur a lost of about $600,000. (Last year’s record price was $416,000 for a tuna sold to a Hong Kong restaurateur.) This year, the Kiyomura Co. wanted the best bluefin tuna to remain in Japan to boost the morale of the Japanese people after last year’s string of disasters hit their nation (but 80% of the world’s bluefins are already consumed by Japan).

~ Bluefin tuna's sustainability is at risk.

However, this seemingly innocuous publicity campaign is considered by environmentalists as a reckless stunt that can endanger already depleted bluefin stocks (currently at about 20% of what it used to be). This advertisement for "gold with fins" and overpriced sushi in general send the wrong signal to fishermen, encouraging further over-fishing. And fishermen from Japan and around the world may now switch from catching other fish to catching the bluefin. Many fishermen are also expected to violate quotas to try to make their fortunes. In addition, in their mad dash to catch the bluefin, fishermen may employ unethical and damaging fishing practices (such as drift netting and longline fishing) that can harm other marine life such as turtles, sharks, and dolphins.